Negative OC experience tonight at Collierville, TN Walmart

This is a discussion on Negative OC experience tonight at Collierville, TN Walmart within the Open Carry Issues & Discussions forums, part of the Defensive Carry Discussions category; Another example of why we need MORE open carry--not LESS.
Night news etc have been on the brain washing kick for years-now some education....

Walmart's policy is if it's concealed, no problem. If it becomes visible, they can ask you to leave to prevent scaring the people. I'd say it all depends on "where" the Walmart is located. If it's a bad neighborhood prone to crime and has more security than the usually few you never see, then they may ask you to conceal it, put it in the vehicle or just leave, depending on if they have the courage to do so. If the Walmart has a bank inside it and they are making an armored car pick-up/delivery it would also make them nervous.

Gunsmoke, do you have proof of your statement underlined above?

Collierville is a very quiet and peaceful suburb of Memphis. But unlike Memphis we have had 5 murders in the last 10-12 years. Memphis has been known to hit this number in one day.

I do not agree that me approaching a building with a holstered firearm is reason for panic by an armored car guard. Most criminals use the element of surprise. I feel like I totally remove that fear when I open carry.

AS I remember on KSCCW.com or here, someone had written Walmart Corp offices and they said they did not ban guns in their stores. Whether people realize it or not, Walmart employees can carry in most places I know if they have Walmart's permission.

I also remember one where a Walmart Mgr posted a "no gun sign", and Walmart Corp said he was wrong and made him remove it.

I would have left knowing he did not want and person carrying in his\her store.

I am not a lawyer. It has been made known to me that in TN once you are aware that you are not wanted on the premises with a firearm, you are then trespassing. I know everyone in TN touts the proper signage - but if one understands no firearm - and continues – you are then trespassing and could be arrested.

I would have simply left and took my business elsewhere. Glad it worked out for you.

Since there are lots of thing flying around about Walmart, I pulled this off of OCDO.

"I placed a call to Wal-Mart Corporate.
They directed me back down to the Regional Marketing Office.
They gave me POC name Cory Confer @ 570-821-6180.
I called – he’s out today but the Regional Management Assistant took my info and told me that one of the other Regional Mangers would return my call.

So….Mr Robert Reck called me back. 717 Area Code. He was absolutely confident in his tone. He was “at-his-fingertips” clear about Wal-Mart policy. And was absolutely FIRM with his answer.

And I was bowled over SHOCKED at how friendly and supportive Mr Reck was.
I told him the details of the incident.
I didn’t tell Mr. Reck that his manager was condescending at one point. And I didn’t tell Mr. Reck that I drew attention to the manager’s weight.
I DID tell Mr Reck that the two managers handled the entire situation without drawing any attention whatsoever to what we were talking about.

Now for the shocker – and this is from coming from the Regional Manager servicing areas south of us (717 area code).

Mr. Reck was pleased that his managers did not draw attention to the situation.

HOWEVER – he was alarmed that the managers made me cover up and even more alarmed that I was told that if I am seen OC’ing in Wal-Mart again…..they’d call DCPD and have me escorted out. He flat out told me that is untrue and his managers were WRONG. They absolutely CANNOT ask customers to cover. Reason is that the managers have no right to demand you to produce your carry permit (though he said they can ask???) and therefore cannot definitively prove that you ARE a valid LTCF holder. Mr Reck was immediately alarmed because he knew that that practice could, invariable, cause a customer to be in a situation where they ARE breaking the law (concealed with no permit). Kudos to him.
Point#1 – Wal-Mart Regional Manager Robert Reck said managers are NOT permitted to tell customers to cover….ever.

Mr. Reck was even more alarmed that I was told that the DCPD would escort me out if I were seen OC’ing again. He said that is absolutely untrue and that I should NOT be asked to leave the store based on the fact that I have a firearm on my hip. Lawfully armed citizens are welcome in Wal-Mart.

Mr. Reck acknowledged that there is new management in place and said that he will absolutely be getting in touch with store #1884 (Dickson City) management to refresh them on how to handle lawfully armed customers.

Point#2 – Wal-Mart Regional Manager Robert Reck said managers are NOT permitted to tell customers to leave the store because of lawful firearms carry.

SO……how ARE they supposed to handle us? Mr. Reck explained.
If another customer were to notify management that they are nervous because they saw another customer with a firearm…..then management WILL approach the armed customer and ask if they have a permit (why he was saying this, I dunno). There isn’t much more that management can do – Mr. Reck says that he trains all his managers to, if in such a situation, approach and introduce and ask if the gun carrier is a permit holder (but they cannot demand it produced). Then the manager is supposed to go BACK to the initial customer who complained and reassure them that the armed customer, for all intensive purposes, is lawfully carrying a firearm.

Another thing that Mr. Reck made ABSOLUTELY clear is that managers ARE NOT to tell customers to go back and secure their firearm in their vehicle. Because, he said, first of all, lawfully armed citizens are welcome in Wal-Mart. Secondly, he briefly shared a story about an incident that occurred recently in his jurisdiction…….a manager wrongfully instructed a customer to leave the store and lock the gun in his car….then he may return to the store. Wellllll somebody overheard this and when the gun guy went back into the store, his firearm was stolen from his vehicle. Mr Reck said that incident turned into quite a mess.

Point#3 – Wal-Mart Regional Manager Robert Reck said managers are NOT permitted to tell customers to go lock their firearms in their vehicles.

So towards the end of our conversation I asked Mr. Reck……”So the next time I visit the Dickson City Wal-Mart, may I be permitted to continue to wear my firearm as I always had?” He said “Absolutely.” He’ll be getting in touch with the 1884 management team to clarify Wal-Marts firearm policy."

Since there are lots of thing flying around about Walmart, I pulled this off of OCDO.

"I placed a call to Wal-Mart Corporate.
They directed me back down to the Regional Marketing Office.
They gave me POC name Cory Confer @ 570-821-6180.
I called – he’s out today but the Regional Management Assistant took my info and told me that one of the other Regional Mangers would return my call.

So….Mr Robert Reck called me back. 717 Area Code. He was absolutely confident in his tone. He was “at-his-fingertips” clear about Wal-Mart policy. And was absolutely FIRM with his answer.

And I was bowled over SHOCKED at how friendly and supportive Mr Reck was.
I told him the details of the incident.
I didn’t tell Mr. Reck that his manager was condescending at one point. And I didn’t tell Mr. Reck that I drew attention to the manager’s weight.
I DID tell Mr Reck that the two managers handled the entire situation without drawing any attention whatsoever to what we were talking about.

Now for the shocker – and this is from coming from the Regional Manager servicing areas south of us (717 area code).

Mr. Reck was pleased that his managers did not draw attention to the situation.

HOWEVER – he was alarmed that the managers made me cover up and even more alarmed that I was told that if I am seen OC’ing in Wal-Mart again…..they’d call DCPD and have me escorted out. He flat out told me that is untrue and his managers were WRONG. They absolutely CANNOT ask customers to cover. Reason is that the managers have no right to demand you to produce your carry permit (though he said they can ask???) and therefore cannot definitively prove that you ARE a valid LTCF holder. Mr Reck was immediately alarmed because he knew that that practice could, invariable, cause a customer to be in a situation where they ARE breaking the law (concealed with no permit). Kudos to him.
Point#1 – Wal-Mart Regional Manager Robert Reck said managers are NOT permitted to tell customers to cover….ever.

Mr. Reck was even more alarmed that I was told that the DCPD would escort me out if I were seen OC’ing again. He said that is absolutely untrue and that I should NOT be asked to leave the store based on the fact that I have a firearm on my hip. Lawfully armed citizens are welcome in Wal-Mart.

Mr. Reck acknowledged that there is new management in place and said that he will absolutely be getting in touch with store #1884 (Dickson City) management to refresh them on how to handle lawfully armed customers.

Point#2 – Wal-Mart Regional Manager Robert Reck said managers are NOT permitted to tell customers to leave the store because of lawful firearms carry.

SO……how ARE they supposed to handle us? Mr. Reck explained.
If another customer were to notify management that they are nervous because they saw another customer with a firearm…..then management WILL approach the armed customer and ask if they have a permit (why he was saying this, I dunno). There isn’t much more that management can do – Mr. Reck says that he trains all his managers to, if in such a situation, approach and introduce and ask if the gun carrier is a permit holder (but they cannot demand it produced). Then the manager is supposed to go BACK to the initial customer who complained and reassure them that the armed customer, for all intensive purposes, is lawfully carrying a firearm.

Another thing that Mr. Reck made ABSOLUTELY clear is that managers ARE NOT to tell customers to go back and secure their firearm in their vehicle. Because, he said, first of all, lawfully armed citizens are welcome in Wal-Mart. Secondly, he briefly shared a story about an incident that occurred recently in his jurisdiction…….a manager wrongfully instructed a customer to leave the store and lock the gun in his car….then he may return to the store. Wellllll somebody overheard this and when the gun guy went back into the store, his firearm was stolen from his vehicle. Mr Reck said that incident turned into quite a mess.

Point#3 – Wal-Mart Regional Manager Robert Reck said managers are NOT permitted to tell customers to go lock their firearms in their vehicles.

So towards the end of our conversation I asked Mr. Reck……”So the next time I visit the Dickson City Wal-Mart, may I be permitted to continue to wear my firearm as I always had?” He said “Absolutely.” He’ll be getting in touch with the 1884 management team to clarify Wal-Marts firearm policy."

She went on to say she hoped I wouldn't shoot anyone. I responded I have no reason to shoot anyone unless my life was threatened.

I read often pretty much the same statement when someone mentions a sheep worried about their OC. It pisses me off that someone is going to approach someone mineing their own business and ask such a question. If I'm ever asked that I will probably say I'm here minding my own business, does it look like I'm shooting anyone up? Why are you harassing me?

I read often pretty much the same statement when someone mentions a sheep worried about their OC. It pisses me off that someone is going to approach someone mineing their own business and ask such a question. If I'm ever asked that I will probably say I'm here minding my own business, does it look like I'm shooting anyone up? Why are you harassing me?

Ragin Cajun...I chalk it up to ignorance and lack of common sense. I'm not a rude or insensitive person and respect everyone I contact, (up to a certain point). As I stated in my original post, I offered reassurance that I am not the one to fear and had no plans to shoot up the place.

(snipped0
So towards the end of our conversation I asked Mr. Reck……”So the next time I visit the Dickson City Wal-Mart, may I be permitted to continue to wear my firearm as I always had?” He said “Absolutely.” He’ll be getting in touch with the 1884 management team to clarify Wal-Marts firearm policy."

Maybe its just me, I dont know. But I just cannot comprehend why people, even ones on this forum think that the sight of a weapon scares people. And if it does, well then its probably bc their uneducated on the facts.

Or bc there is not enough OC, if more people were to OC then there would be less and less people getting scared at the sight of a person legally carrying a weapon.

I personally think that is a cop out excuse.... And I for one support OC and CC, but I dont condone the people that say it scares me and only LEO should carry

Thats a load of crap, wake up america. The problem is all the BG's and their weapons that they carry. People need to see the everyday joe legally carrying his/her weapon more often....

Quote
But I just cannot comprehend why people, even ones on this forum think that the sight of a weapon scares people End Quote

Because it does.

That, in and of itself, is not sufficient reason not to OC, but it is a consideration and one must realize that there will be some confrontations, and aggressive antis who might call the police. These things are unpleasant, but if one wants to do it anyway then go for it as long as it is legal. My only objection is to the "in your face" attitude of some.

For me there are more objections than advangages to OC, and I never do it in town. Those pluses and minuses have been discussed so I am not going to addresss them.